Cited To Appear Before House Plenary
By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor in Monrovia
The Plenary of the House of Representatives has summoned the Management of the Farmington Hotel at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) in Margibi County to appear before that august body on Thursday, March 8th, over claims of bad labor practice and to give reasons why they should not be held in contempt.
The House took the decision on Tuesday, March 6th during its 15th day sitting based on a complaint from Margibi County Representative Ivar Jones, accusing the management of the hotel of engaging in bad labor practice against local employees and obstructing the legislative functions by ordering the lawmaker to get out of the hotel.
This the first of kind for the 54th House of Representatives of the Liberian Legislature to summon private entity over possible contempt charges.
“Honorable Speaker, while the aggrieved workers were explaining their grievances, the chief of security of the hotel, Alvin Tarpeh, entered the discussion and asked me out,” Rep. Jones told his colleagues.
The Electoral District # 2 Representative of Margibi County pleaded with his colleagues to exercise their oversight responsibility by conducting an investigation into allegation of bad labor practices, which are against the country’s labor law.
Rep. Jones further said that during three days Legislative orientation retreat organized by the National Democratic Institute (NDI), “it is bad to know that we enjoyed the hospitality of the Hotel but the citizens and workers of the Farmington Hotel that are instrumental in providing those services rights are being violated.”
Some violations allegedly practiced against employees include insults, assaults, intimidation and denial to organize a workers union.
“…there are lots of profanity the workers alleged that are used on them which I can’t quote directly in my communication. The human Resource Manager Daniel Cephus, also intimidated the employees by video tapping them…”
Rep. Jones disclosed that he was briefed by some of the local workers about the inhumane treatment during the NDI orientation retreat for lawmakers.
He also stated in his communication that specific emphasis was placed on Richard Robaix who is the General Manager.
Following intense debate on the matter, the House Plenary agreed that the management of the Farmington Hotel be invited to appear before the full body on Thursday, March 8, 2018 to show reasons why it should not be held contempt for obstructing legislative work of the lawmaker and to answer question to allegations of bad labor practice, based on a motion proffered by Rep. Jay Nagbe Sloh of Electoral District 2, Grand Kru County.
Meanwhile, Nimba County Representative Jeremiah Koung raised a motion for reconsideration, but Speaker Bhofal Chambers denied the motion. Under the rules of the House of Representatives motion for reconsideration is a unique motion that cannot be rejected by the presiding officer.
